WEEK 16* THE RANDY KRAFT TRIAL

Randy Steven Kraft, charged with murdering 16 men, is on trial in Orange County Superior Court in what some legal experts say will be the biggest and costliest case in California history. LAST WEEK: Juror Jane A. Jowdy of Anaheim was dismissed from the panel following a closed-door hearing in the judge’s chambers. Neither the judge nor Jowdy would say why, but a source who knows her said she may have discussed the case outside the courtroom. THE DEFENSE: ‘We’re hoping to guard against the jury being the victim of psychological factors they may not be aware of.’ --Attorney William J. Kopeny, arguing unsuccessfully that a psycholgist should be allowed to to warn jurors not to be influenced by the sheer number of murders. THE PROSECUTION: ‘The court can take care of that problem with its jury instructions. A psychologist isn’t going to add anything. ‘ --Deputy Dist. Atty. Eric W. Snethen NUMBER OF WITNESSES: Last Week 14. To Date 243. ITEMS LOGGED AS POSSIBLE EVIDENCE: Last week 8. To Date 1,154. THIS WEEK: Kraft’s lawyers are expected to present evidence in the 1975 slaying of Keith Daven Crotwell, 19, of Long Beach. This was the only one of the 16 deaths in which Kraft was a suspect before his arrest. * Jury selection and legal motions began July 25, 1988, and testimony began Sept. 5. The trial recessed for about 2 months at the end of the prosecution’s case.